Holy Land: Christmas Appeal from Archbishop Elias Chacour

Building a better future for our younger generation whether Jew, Christian or Muslim

Dear Beloved friends, Brothers and Sisters,

From Mar Elias Educational Institutions (MEEI) we send you this message unlike other messages in the past. We feel emotionally a great need to share with you some of our reality, without entering into details or siding with anyone against the other, since we attached a vital importance to our togetherness.

We are surviving physically and we are deeply wounded emotionally and spiritually. Indeed, we don't understand the diabolic game, that in unfolding in our beautiful country. That country which was chosen by the Lord Jesus Christ, for his incarnation. It's no secret to anyone that there is a satanic game and a competition between the different parties who is capable of inflicting more victims on the other side, and meanwhile we shed tears for every child of God, be he a Jew or Palestinian, who falls down victim of this war which is most unjust. We believe that all wars are unjust, and they are rooted in the evil inclination of the leaders of nations who believe that might is right, and whatever they wish they can have it with their might regardless of their right.

We convey to you from MEEI that we are educating our 2500 children to mature, convinced that we all have the same dignity, the same yearning for freedom and we have the same wish to live there in peace. The present situation, I mean this merciless war, leaves us in a permanent fear, that things will deteriorate and more victims in all sides will leave us all with deep wounds. We see Jewish ladies crying for their beloved lost ones, and we see limitless number of Palestinian women crying for the loss of their beloved ones. And we ask ourselves: When will this insanity come to an end? When will both sides stop demonizing each other? When, in fact and in reality, both sides were created beloved children of God.

NOW God must be deploring the lamentable destiny of the victims of war. Here at MEEI the first reaction from teachers and students was to get involved. They decided the best way is to donate their blood for wounded people, I mean children of God. We are encouraged to see our Palestinian blood filling the Jewish veins. Since we have the same blood given by the same creator and what we want is to be his ambassadors for reconciliation.

We are particularly moved with this period of Advent preparing for the coming of the Prince of Peace. I wish, I pray and implore that the attitude of Abraham the Patriarch becomes our own attitude, when he said to his relative, the Lord is large, choose wherever you want, if you go to the right I will take the left side, and if you choose the left, I will take the right. What I want is to live together in peace. Aren't we sojourners on this land which belongs to God? He graced us in order to get, to know better each other, but not to compete who would kill the other, like king Ehab did with Naboth the Palestinian when the land belongs to the Lord, not to Ehab neither to Naboth. It's God's. No one have the right to inherit what he doesn't own. The owner is alive, he is the giver of life.

Dear friends, I spend my time praying for justice in order to be graced with peace, I invite you to do so as well.

A few simple words about our economic situation: We suffer deeply from the ongoing deteriorating economical situation because of the ongoing war. May it stop, may we never more have experience of war. We are radically fed up of stories of violence and acts of warriors. We feel very much that we might have to reconsider running the schools without enough assistance and financial helps, and you are doing much to help us. We feel the need to urge you to use your generosity, and make a special effort to help us survive and return back to "at least" the previous situation. We have been always depending on your generosity, we still are and even much more depending on your prayers and your generous donation.

Yours,

Abuna Elias Chacour

Archbishop em of Galilee

LINKS

Donations can be made through this link: https://pilgrimsofibillin.org/donate-now/

Mar Elias Educational Institutions: https://meeischools.com/

ASHRAY (The UK Charity Supporting the Peace Building Initiatives Founded by Archbishop Elias Chacour): www.ukashray.wordpress.com

Cheques should be made payable to "ASHRAY" and sent to Lyngarth, Front Street, Rothbury, Northumberland, NE65 7UU
Ashray is registered with HMRC for Gift Aid. Forms are available also from this address: Lyngarth, Front Street, Rothbury NE65 7UU.